The legal battle over the impact of social media on young users reached a critical point this Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, testified for the first time in a landmark trial regarding allegations that Instagram was designed to hook children and fuel addiction, impacting on youth mental health. Throughout his testimony, Zuckerberg remained firm in his defense. He repeatedly stated that the company does not intentionally target users under the age of 13.
Zuckerberg takes the stand: “We don’t target kids for addiction”
One of the most intense moments of the trial occurred when lawyers presented internal documents from 2018. These papers suggested that to “win big” with teenagers, the company first had to bring them in as “tweens” (children aged 10 to 12).
Zuckerberg responded by alleging a misinterpretation of these discussions. He explained that while the tech giant explored the possibility of creating safer, age-appropriate versions of their services for younger audiences, those specific projects never moved forward. According to the CEO, the company’s intent was always to build safe environments, not to bypass their own age restrictions.
Screen time and addiction trial: Meta’s role on youth mental health
The prosecution also questioned Zuckerberg about his past statements regarding user engagement. Jurors saw emails from a decade ago where the CEO discussed goals to increase time spent on the app by double-digit percentages.
Zuckerberg countered that the company’s philosophy has shifted significantly since then. He described more recent “milestones”—such as increasing daily usage from 40 to 46 minutes—not as predatory goals, but as “gut checks” to measure if users are finding the service valuable. He maintained that if people use the app more, it is a “side effect” of a high-quality experience rather than a calculated attempt to cause addiction.
Responsibility and industry impact
Zuckerberg was also asked about the persistent issue of underage users slipping through the cracks. Meta’s CEO pointed toward a broader industry solution. He suggested that the burden of age verification should fall on mobile device makers and app stores, such as Apple and Google, rather than on individual app developers. Zuckerberg had also stated that many kids lie about their age to sign up for Instagram.
This trial could change how tech companies take accountability for the core design of their platforms. There are thousands of similar lawsuits going on in the U.S. right now. The decision in Los Angeles will probably set a standard for social media regulations and care for young people’s mental health.
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